Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekfullham’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dekfullham’, characterized by its daisy-type inflorescences with spatulate to oblong-shaped, red purple-colored ray florets and yellow green-colored disc florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Dekfullham’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and referred to by the name ‘Dekfullham’.

The new Chrysanthemum is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemum cultivars with interesting inflorescence forms and attractive floret coloration.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Sep. 28, 2001, in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum identified as code number 5003,75, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Chrysanthemum selection identified as code number 5002,35, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since March, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Dekfullham has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dekfullham’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dekfullham’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Daisy-type inflorescences with spatulate to oblong-shaped,         red purple-colored ray florets and yellow green-colored disc         florets; typically grown as a spray-type.     -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Early and uniform flowering response.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had darker green-colored         leaves than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller inflorescences         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the female parent         selection differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the         female parent had pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more vigorous than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger leaves than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered earlier than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   5. Plants of new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection         differed slightly in ray floret coloration.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar DekLacetti, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/888,829. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar DekLacetti in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are not as vigorous as plants         of the cultivar DekLacetti.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had darker green-colored         leaves than plants of the cultivar DekLacetti.     -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered later than plants of         the cultivar DekLacetti.     -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar DekLacetti         differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the cultivar         DekLacetti had bronze-colored ray florets.     -   5. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had fewer disc florets per         inflorescence than plants of the cultivar DekLacetti.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Dekfullham’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of upper and lower surfaces of typical inflorescences and typical leaves of ‘Dekfullham’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5 to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5 to 24° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about ten weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar     Dekfullham. -   Commercial classification: Daisy-type Chrysanthemum typically grown     as a spray-type cut flower. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 5003,75,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 5002,35,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine and freely branching; light brown in             color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous daisy-type cut Chrysanthemum;             typically grown as a spray-type; erect and strong flowering             stems. Moderately vigorous.         -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 80 cm. Diameter:             About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Aspect:             Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown as single             stems. Color: 146B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 8             to 20 cm. Width: About 6 to 8 cm. Apex: Cuspidate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Pinnately lobed; serrate. Texture, upper             and lower surface: Pubescent. Petiole length: About 2 to             4 cm. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Between 137A             and 147A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 137C. Fully             expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Fully expanded             foliage, lower surface: Closest to 137B. Venation, upper             surface: 146A. Venation, lower surface: 146B. Petiole, upper             and lower surfaces: 146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with spatulate to             oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals             above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop acropetally on a             capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant. Typically grown as a             spray-type.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant             typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At             other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and             development can be induced under short day/long night             conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed             to long day/short night conditions after planting followed             by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower             about 53 days later. Early and uniform flowering response.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain             good substance and form for about 3.5 weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 21             inflorescences per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth (height):             About 3 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About             8 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 137C.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 3 to 3.2 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Spatulate to oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base: Fused,             short corolla tube. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per             inflorescence: About 20 to 24. Color: When opening, upper             surface: 61A. When opening, lower surface: 70A. Fully             opened, upper surface: 71B. Fully opened, lower surface:             80D.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; elongated. Length: About 6 mm.             Width: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:             About 155. Color: Immature: Towards the apex, 144B; towards             the base, 144D. Mature: 153D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 5 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:             About 60° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens     and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekfullham’, as illustrated and described. 